Tilt Trains set for a major overhaul

QUEENSLAND Rail Travel customers can look forward to a number of improvements from mid next year (2016) as work sets to start on a major overhaul of the Rockhampton and Bundaberg Tilt Trains.

The work will involve the mid-life overhaul of the two trains including upgrades to key mechanical, electrical and control components and internal refurbishments.

Queensland Rail executive general manager Travel and Tourist Martin Ryan said the project was great news for customers.

"The Bundaberg and Rockhampton Tilt Trains, which travel between Brisbane and Rockhampton, are among the most popular trains in Queensland Rail's long distance fleet," Mr Ryan said.

"In the 2013 - 2014 financial year, 225,000 people chose to take a journey along Queensland's southern coast aboard a Tilt Train service.

"Annually, the trains travel approximately 350,000km to connect communities from Brisbane to Bundaberg and Rockhampton and have travelled more than five million kilometres since their introduction in 1998.

"This overhaul will ensure the trains continue to perform safely and reliably, and will also extend the serviceable life of the rollingstock."

Mr Ryan said the overhaul of the Tilt Trains was part of a wider plan to see the Queensland Rail Travel fleet enter a new era of rail travel.

"This overhaul will complement our state-of-the-art Spirit of Queensland fleet which was completed late last year and also services the Queensland coastline," he said.

Works on the Tilt Trains will be undertaken by Downer EDI in Maryborough and is expected to be completed in mid-2016.

Throughout the project, some timetable changes will be experienced including temporary changes to rollingstock used for the Tilt Train.